AYUSH
UDAAN 2021: All India Institute of Ayurveda celebrated the Vishikhanuprivesha and Shishyopanayana Samskara  of its MD students and the first batch of PhD scholars
Udaan-2021 ceremony of All India Institute of Ayurveda celebrated the Vishikhanuprivesha and Shishyopanayana Samskara  of its MD students and the first batch of PhD scholars at Vigyan Bhawan today. Director, AIIA welcomed the guests and informed that the program was intended to sensitize the young scholars about the research areas and avenues in the technologies and basic as well as applied research through the experts from the MoU partners of AIIA from the premier institutions like IIT and CSIR New Delhi. The inaugural session was presided over by Shri Sripad Yesso Naik, Honble Minister of State of Defence.
In his inaugural address, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik lauded the efforts taken by All India Institute of Ayurveda regarding various initiatives taken by AIIA from past 5 years in establishing principles of Ayurveda at National and International levels. Honble Minister also appreciated the special efforts of AIIA taken during COVID pandemic specifically AYURAKSHA project, COVID Hospital providing Ayurveda holistic treatment etc. He was also elated to know that PhD program has started at AIIA and it was a proud moment for AIIA for having 100 % results under Delhi University, with record of almost 100 % placement and self-entrepreneurship outcome.
Addressing inaugural session of the the All India Institute of Ayurveda organised Udaan-2021, Isha Foundation’s Sadhguru gave a clarion call to all Ayurveda graduates and practitioners to become lovers of life to be able to become lovers of Ayurveda. “Dont worry about how to make it global, let Ayurveda live and throb in India and the world will come to you”, he stressed in his online address. He reminded the young and experienced practitioners alike that stay young is the message of Ayurveda and to stay young means remian open to life. Prof. Tanuja Nesari, Director, AIIA, moderated the interaction with Sadhguru.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, congratulated the newly inducted PG and PhD scholars who were torch bearers, ambassadors of Ayurveda being inducted in globally recognized institute of Ayurveda. He expressed his pleasure about the benchmark achievements and initiatives of AIIA during the COVID pandemic, especially the AYURAKSHA project for Delhi Police wherein 80 thousand Delhi police personnel were provided with Ayuraksha kit which led to drastic decrease in morbidity and mortality status among police personnel during COVID pandemic. He also shared the findings of Ayush Sanjivani APP wherein 1crore 47 lakh responses were recorded which revealed inclination of 85.1 % surveyed population towards AYUSH practices in COVID management. He emphasized the need of developing diverse expertise in field, clinical acumen, humility, broad vision and aptitude for propagating Ayurveda. Speaking about the opportunities in the field, he stressed upon exploring diverse fields like Health tourism through Ayurveda and Yoga modalities, various schemes of AYUSH Ministry and other departments for nurturing start-ups, entrepreneurship programs and skill development.
Padmabhushan Vaidya Devendra Triguna, Roshan Jaggi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Vaidya Manoj Nesari Advisor – Ayurveda, Ministry of AYUSH, Director General of Research Councils under AYUSH, Representatives from National Institutes of AYUSH, namely ITRA, Jamnagar and NIA Jaipur, Eminent academicians, researchers and scientists attended the programme.
Dr. Vishal Kumar from Department of Dravyaguna was adjudicated best outgoing MD scholar of batch 2017 – 20 for his outstanding academic performance and research activity and awarded with a prize of Rs. 20000 and certificate of appreciation.
A Swasthya Raksha Kit was released on this occasion. It contained patient friendly formulations made by blending pharmaceutical technology in form of easy dispersible sachets of Ayush Kwatha and new tablet combination consisting of immunoboosting herbs like Giloy, Gokhuru, Amla and Ashwagandha.
During the Shishyopanayan Samskara , first entrants of PhD  and 5th batch of Ayurveda MD/MS were formally inducted into the Institute at the hands of head of AIIA family and presented with certificate and memento.
A Short film, Vyadhikshamatva – to resist and recover, was released by Secretary of AYUSH on this occasion depicting the exemplary work undertaken by AIIA during COVID pandemic. The content of film included scientific and evidence based understanding of preventive, palliative and curative procedures of Ayurveda in management of COVID19. It showcased the methodology of treatment of COVID 19 patients at CHC of AIIA through AYUR-YOGA protocol incorporating principles of Ayurveda, Yoga, diet and lifestyle modifications.
Roshan Jaggi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH focused on strengthening of placement and counseling cells for proper utilization of AYUSH man power. Shortage of AYUSH manpower in public health domain is a domain which needs to be strengthened.
Vote of thanks for inaugural function was given by Prof Mahesh Vyas, Dean 
This was followed by an orientation lecture by Dr. Shekhar C Mande, Secretary, DSIR and DG, CSIR. He stressed on importance of local health traditions but also cautioned that scientific basis is less understood. He stressed that integrating technology with tradition for generating scientific evidence for better understanding and wider acceptance of Ayurveda is need of hour. He was pleased with the strong collaboration of CSIR and Ministry of AYUSH in this direction. The orientation lecture was followed by an interactive discussion with faculty and scholars.
Padmabhushan Vaidya Devendra Triguna, Prof. Sujata Kadam, Dean , Prof. Mahesh Vyas, Dean , Vaidya Manoj Nesari, Advisor – Ayurveda, Ministry of AYUSH, DGs of Research Councils under AYUSH, Representatives from National Institutes of AYUSH, namely ITRA, Jamnagar and NIA Jaipur, faculty and scholars as well as eminent academicians, researchers and scientists attended the programme.
Alumni meet had experience sharing of post graduated scholars and faculty members followed by convocation program.
Vishikhanupravesha program  was graced by Shri Kiren Rijuju, Hon’ble Minister of State , Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and I/c Ministry of AYUSH, Prof. Pooran Chand Joshi, Hon’ble Pro Vice Chancellor, Delhi University, Padmabhusan Vaidya Devendra Triguna, Shri Pramod Kumar Pathak, Additional Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH and Prof. Tanuja Manoj Nesari, Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda. The dignitaries felicitated the MD/MS Ayurveda scholars of Batch 2016 – 19 and Batch 2017-20.
In his address, Shri Pramod Kumar Pathak, urged Ayurveda fraternity to come forward with scientifically validated outcomes for global acceptance of Ayurveda.
Padmanhusan Vaidya Devendra Triguna expressed his delight over convocation of two batches of MD/MS scholars. He urged the scholars to utilize the strengths of Ayurveda to make it more relevant in the community.
Prof. Pooran Chand Joshi, Hon’ble Pro Vice Chancellor, Delhi University expressed his views regarding carrying out state of the art research in field of Ayurveda by amalgamation of latest technology into ancient wisdom and assured full support of Delhi University. Exploring local health traditions and their assimilation and propagation is also essential for utilizing Ayurveda to its full potential.
Another short film on the efforts of AIIA and Ministry of AYUSH during COVID pandemic was released by Shri Kiren Rijuju on this occasion. The film featured how the lives of AIIA doctors, front line workers and common public were affected due to COVID pandemic. It focused on the AYURAKSHA, a mega clinical cohort study and mass prophylactic program carried out on 80,000 Delhi police personnel under the direction of Ministry of AYUSH. Ayuraksha – was a joint venture of AIIA and Delhi Police for maintaining the health of front line COVID warriors through Ayurveda immunity modulating and immunity boosting formulations. This project has been path breaking and motivating for all the future programs.
Other exemplary initiatives like setting up of covid testing facility, covid call center were also elaborated in the film.
Shri Kiren Rijuju, in his presidential address stressed the need to recognize our own traditional wisdom. He acknowledged the role of Ayurveda and Ministry of AYUSH in controlling the covid pandemic in India and wished AIIA for all its future endeavors.
Vote of thanks for convocation ceremony was given by Prof Sujata Kadam, Dean